Critical comments redacted in government marine safety report

The government has been accused of “gross negligence” after comments critical about its boat training program were hidden from the public in a redacted report about marine safety.

CRITICAL comments about a government-mandated training program were hidden from the public in a redacted report into the state’s marine safety services.

Opposition spokesman for fire and emergency services Dale Last has accused the government of “gross negligence” and said burying information about boat safety courses potentially put lives at risk.

The Blue Water Review was commissioned to examine marine rescue services across the state, which are provided by the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association and Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland.

VMR Burdekin member Vince Papale prepares to attach a tow line to a stricken race boat.

Unredacted passages of the report provided to the Bulletin show “many comments” critical about the state’s compulsory boat licensing course were made to the report’s author, Royal Australian Navy commodore Campbell Darby, but were hidden in the version released publicly.

“Many comments were received that the Boating Licence Course is nothing more than a ‘box ticking’ exercise and does little to educate the public,” a redacted passage read.

The revelation comes as 17 people lost their lives on Queensland waterways in 2020, the highest number of marine fatalities in 20 years.

At the same time, there was a significant rise of about triple the number of new boats on the water with more than 7000 registrations.

Another redacted part of the report found safety risks would continue to rise as people purchased larger and faster boats, as waters became more congested and boaters ventured further offshore.

Parts of the report which proposed possible solutions to the problem were also redacted.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey at Parliament House. Picture: Liam Kidston

Member for Burdekin Dale Last speaks during Question Time at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Mr Last said an explanation was needed about the “cover up”.

He said volunteers were being left to pick up the pieces after the state recorded its highest number of marine fatalities in two decades.

“For at least a year before that, (the government) hid revelations … that could have potentially saved lives,” he said.

“Marine rescue volunteers, who are our frontline responders when boating incidents occur, predicted the risks would rise as waterways became more congested and the public purchased bigger and faster vessels,” he said.

“Instead of listening to our frontline volunteers, taking on board their feedback and making potentially life saving changes to boat licensing courses, the (government) turned a blind eye.”

Boaters must complete a BoatSafe training course, including a practical assessment, before they can apply for a licence.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the course was “rigorously” designed to improve the safety, awareness, attitude and competence of future licence holders.

The spokesman said the “typical” course included online or face-to-face theory, a 50 question assessment with a 100 per cent pass requirement as well as practical training.

Former Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford was unavailable for comment.

Then Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford (centre) and member for Cairns Michael Healy speak to media. Picture: Stewart McLean

The Bulletin approached his office on two occasions asking why the report was redacted under his watch.

Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Angus Mitchell said the training system had been reviewed and trainers audited.

“We have also reviewed program documents to make it clear what is required for delivery of the program rather than what ‘should’ be covered,” he said.

“This has improved clarity and halved the number of documents and pages required.

“Our compliance and administrative actions have reduced the number of approved trainers from 240 to 136.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the state’s licensing system was modelled on national guidelines and that boaters must pass a practical assessment before they were eligible for a licence.

He said Maritime Safety Queensland reviewed incidents and that a recent rise in person overboard fatalities prompted the group to consult the boating community on new approaches to safety with proposals including extending mandatory lifejacket requirements.

Marine Rescue Queensland vice president Vince Papale said while he disagreed the course was a “box ticking exercise”, he supported raising the benchmark.

Volunteer Marine Rescue state vice president Vince Papale has been a vocal advocate about the Blue Water Review into the marine rescue sector.

“It has been my experience that this method is quite sound and is continually being reviewed,” Mr Papale said.

“Trainers that I know do treat it seriously and don’t just make it a box ticking exercise because that road is fraught with peril and I like to think that is not the case.

“I believe that raising the benchmark would probably help so that people become accustomed to actually observing what’s around them.”

Mr Papale urged people interested in attaining a boat licence to contact their boating organisations and marine rescue organisations.

Originally published as Critical comments redacted in government marine safety report